CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert thanked Kyrie Irving for the six seasons he spent here after trading him to Boston on Tuesday.

"On behalf of the entire franchise, I want to thank Kyrie Irving for the six impressive years he spent in Cleveland wearing the Cavaliers uniform," Gilbert said in the Cavs' news release to announce the trade of Irving to the Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn's No. 1 pick.

"From the moment we won the 2011 NBA lottery that put us in position to draft Kyrie to the 'The Shot' that sealed our first NBA championship and all of the electrifying play that made him a joy to watch, 'excitement' was always in the air when it came to Kyrie Irving," Gilbert said. "We wish him and his family well as he moves on to the next phase of his NBA career."

Irving was drafted No. 1 overall in 2011 and his 3-pointer in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals helped clinch Cleveland's first title.

Cavs GM Koby Altman, the architect of the trade on Cleveland's end, said "this trade needed to include both players and assets that we felt strongly could help us continue to compete for championships and we believe it does.

"We look forward to Isaiah, Jae and Ante joining us and also felt that the unprotected first round pick in the deal was very important for us and our future as well," Altman said.